Paul Newman's Rolex watch sells for record $17.8m

A rare Rolex watch that was owned by the late movie star Paul Newman has sold for almost $17.8m (£13.5m), making it the most expensive watch ever auctioned. Newman, who won an Oscar for his performance in the 1986 film The Colour of Money, wore the watch every day for 15 years. The Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, made of stainless steel and on sale between 1963 and 1970, became known as the “Paul Newman watch”. It had been expected to sell for £1m but there was far more interest than expected. More than 700 people crammed into the auction room, while others joined by phone from 43 countries. The Rolex was eventually sold to an anonymous phone bidder for $17,752,500. Philip French on Paul Newman - an actor of true genius, and a man of great decency Read more The watch had been given to Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward, in 1968. She bought it from a Tiffany & Co store in New Yo...